Carlos Alcaraz Ready to Battle Non-Professionals in Million Dollar Single-Point Showdown
Recreational competitors are getting the chance to earn a seven-figure prize when they face tennis' top professionals - including world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle leading up to the year's first major
Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue
How the Event Will Work
Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who serves or receives, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the next round
The victor of the event will receive a significant cash prize
For comparison, players who reached the final four of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars
Earlier Related Competitions
The American Grand Slam hosted a restructured, standalone combined gender tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving one million US dollars
The Melbourne tournament held its debut One Point Slam this year, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure
One top competitor was the sole elite competitor competing, and his run concluded when he directed the sole serving chance allowed failing to clear the net in his penultimate round
Competition Specifics
Officials have not specified precisely how the event will operate, but it is expected to mirror a comparable structure to this year's edition
The top competitors will be permitted to make one service and the amateurs two times - as is the norm in traditional tennis
While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court
The last matches will occur in a evening slot instead of 1pm local time
Entry Information
Local players - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the national federation - can participate in 'One Point Slam' competitions at their local tennis clubs
The champions of the community events will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every region and area chosen to take part in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on the specified date
There will also be a entry tournament in late year which everyday players, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can participate in
It starts on the starting date and the successful competitors will advance to Wednesday's 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors
"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will walk away with the reward. Entries will open soon at venues across the country"
Competition planners stated there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the event portal indicated "famous personalities" would be involved